EFFECTS OF 5 WEEKS OF HIGH-INTENSITY INTERVAL TRAINING VS. VOLUME TRAINING IN 14-YEAR-OLD SOCCER PLAYERS

Sperlich, B, De Marees, M, Koehler, K, Linville, J, Holmberg, H-C, and Mester, J. Effects of 5 weeks of high-intensity interval training vs. volume training in 14-year-old soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 25(5): 1271-1278, 2011-High-intensity interval training (HIIT) in junior and adult soccer has been shown to improve oxygen uptake (<(V)over dot>o(2)) and enhance soccer performance. The main purpose of this study was to examine the short term effects of a 5-week HIIT vs. high-volume training (HVT) program in 14-year-old soccer players regarding the effects on <(V)over dot>o(2)max and 1,000-m time (T(1000)) and on sprinting and jumping performance. In a 5-week period, 19 male soccer players with a mean (SD) age of 13.5 +/- 0.4 years performed HIIT at close to similar to 90% of maximal heart rate. The HVT intensity was set at 60-75% of maximal heart rate. <(V)over dot>o(2)max increased significantly (7.0%) from pre to post in HIIT but not after HVT. T1000 decreased significantly after HIIT (similar to-10 vs. similar to-5 seconds in HVT). Sprint performance increased significantly in both groups from pre to posttesting without any changes in jumping performance.